The Royal Opera House has announced the 2014-15 season with Antonio Pappano continuing as music director.
The release stated that Pappano would stay as Music director until a least 2017. He stated, "It's a no-brainer that I extend my contract. It's where I belong,'"
The season will open on September 11 with Mark Anthony Turnage's "Anna Nicole" in Richard Jones acclaimed production. Eva Maria-Westbroek will reprise the title role alongside Susan Bickley, Rodney Gilfry and Alan Oke.
The fall season will also include a new production of Verdi's "I Due Foscari" by Thaddeus Strassberger. Pappano will lead the orchestra in chorus in the production which will star Placido Domingo, Maria Argesta, and Francesco Meli. The opera which opens in October will also be transmitted live HD in Cinemas.
Martin Kusej will direct a new production of Mozart's "Idomeneo." Marc Minkowski will conduct the production which will be headlined by Matthew Polenzani in the title role. Malin Bytstrom will perform the role of Elettra while Franco Agioli will sing the role of Idamante.
Laurent Pelly's production of Donizetti's "L'Elisir D'Amore" will return with Vittorio Grigolo as Nemorino and Lucy Crowe as Adina. Bryn Terfel will bring his comic timing to Dulcamara and Daniele Rustioni will conduct. The opera will be performed in HD in cinemas.
The fall will also include new productions of Monteverdi's "Orfeo" in the Roundhouse theatre and Søren Nils Eichberg's "Glare" in te Linbury Studio Theatre. Verdi's "Rigoletto," Rossini's "La Scala di Seta," and "Il Barbiere di Sivgilia" will also receive performances.
The winter season will open with Wagner's "Tristan Und Isolde" conducted by Pappano. Nina Stemme will sing Isolde with Stephen Gould as Tristan. John Tomlinson will perform King Marke and Iain Patterson will perform Kurwenal.
In December a new production of Verdi's "Un Ballo Iin Maschera" will be directed by Katharina Thoma. The opera will be headlined by Joseph Calleja, Liudmyla Monastyrska, Dimitri Hvorstovsky and Marianne Cornetti.
One of the biggest highlights of the season will be David McVicar's new production of Giordano's "Andrea Chenier." Pappano will lead Jonas Kauffman in his role debut alongside Eva-Maria Westbroek, Zeljko Lucic, Denyce Graves and Rosalind Plowright. The opera is set for movie theaters in January.
Wagner's "Die Fliegende Hollander" will also be transmitted in HD with Andris Nelsons conducting Terfel in the lead role.
The winter will also see Mozart's "Die Zauberflote and John Cage's "Listen to the Silence."
The Spring season will begin with Weill's "Rise and Fall of the City of Mahagony. The new production will be directed by John Fulljames with Anne Sophie Von Otter in the lead role. The opera will also be performed in HD.
Szymanowski's "Krol Roger" will be performed in a new production by Kasper Holten. Mariusz Kwiecien will bring his acclaimed portrayal of the role with Saimir Pirgu and Kim Begley.
Verdi's "La Traviata," Rossini's "Il Turco in Italia," and Puccini's "Madama Butterfly" will return to the house. Kristine Opolais will head Butterfly after an acclaimed debut.
The summer season will commence in May with Puccini's "La Boheme." The production will star Anna Netrebko and Calleja and the production be filmed live in HD in Cinemas.
The season will also include a new production of Rossini's "Guillaume Tell with Gerald Finley and John Osborn. The production by Damiano Michieletto will be seen live HD.